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Friday, August 3, 2018

PBT Redux #24 - Is This Panama?

Picture Book: Is This
Panama? A Migration Story

Author: Jan Thornhill

Illustrator: Soyeon Kim

Summary: Sammy, a young warbler,
has heard wonderful descriptions of Panama from other warblers. He is excited
about his first migration from near the Arctic Circle all the way to Panama,
but then he discovers the other warblers have migrated without him. Being so young,
Sammy doesn’t know the route, but he is determined so he sets off with a
willingness to ask for directions from other creatures along the way. Although
Sammy enjoys these interactions, the other creatures steer him wrongly. After
taking a much longer route and feeling discouraged, Sammy finally makes it to
Panama.

Hanna’s Comments: I love
it when authors put maps in their books! This book has a great map in the back
that shows you Sammy’s route, the route warblers regularly take, and the
location of the creatures he meets along the way. You may want to refer to the
map as you read. You’ll also find a list of facts about each creature and a
section on how animals migrate. Adults joke about women being more willing to
ask for directions than men, but truthfully asking for help is not a bad thing,
especially if you do so of someone who is invested in you. If you view this book as a metaphor for
personal journeys, spiritual or otherwise, this book offers opportunities to
talk about being steadfast, interdependent, and vulnerable, while also gleaning wisdom from mentors in your faith community. Consider connecting this book to stories in the Bible
with characters who are lost or misguided; thankfully, there are plenty of
those very human characters.

Publisher & Date of Publication: Owl
Kids Books, 2013

Age & Grade Appropriateness: 5 and
up, K and up

Formats other than Book: None at present

Scripture Connections: Fear
not, for I am with you (Isaiah 41:10); look not only to your own interests but
also to the interests of others (Philippians 2:4); do not neglect to do good
and to share what you have (Hebrews 13:16)

Idea(s)
for Application: Our church sends a mission team to Panama each summer. This
book was recently used in a children’s program about the mission team’s expected
journey and purposes. Whenever a team from your faith community goes to another
part of the world, consider using picture books about the location to teach
your children about what your faith community is doing elsewhere and why.

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PBT is a joyful labor of love, requiring a huge investment of my time, energy, and money. If you have enjoyed or benefited from the PBT website, please consider saying thanks via a donation. I like knowing that my work is appreciated. Hanna